Lin Yue woke up face-first in a pillow embroidered with the words "Charm is a Weapon."
A very dramatic voice echoed through her chambers: "Today begins the Royal Trial of Alluring Combat!"
"What in the kinky cosplay competition is this?" she grunted, rolling over. A scroll poofed into existence beside her, sealed with crimson wax and scandal.
She broke it open.
Dearest Competitors of Charm and Temptation,
You are summoned to participate in the Trial of Seduction. Victory shall be granted to the one who best wields wit, magic, and—above all—sex appeal.
Location: The Temple of Longing
Wardrobe: Optional. But recommended.
May your hearts race and your inhibitions fall.
Sincerely,
Madam Yi — Grand Mistress of Courtly Lust and Tactical Teasing
---
Yun burst in.
"They're pairing everyone up! You and Prince Li Xian are in Group 1!"
Lin Yue choked on her tea. "Why am I always in Group 1?!"
Su Ya floated in behind him, serene and smug. "Because the gods like drama."
"I swear the heavens are writing fanfiction about me."
Yun flipped the scroll. "Also, the challenges include: seducing a magical statue, reciting a poem while wearing nothing but illusions, and surviving the Whispering Sauna."
Lin Yue blinked. "What happens in the Whispering Sauna?"
Su Ya replied, "It whispers your darkest desires aloud... to everyone present."
"NOPE. I'm out."
"You can't back out," said Li Xian, casually leaning on her windowsill like a sexy curse. "I already told the judges you'd out-charm every noble here."
She blinked. "You want me to seduce statues and flirt in a towel... for you?"
"I want to watch you win," he said, voice smooth like butter on forbidden toast.
---
Challenge One: The Tempting of the Jade Warrior
Lin Yue stood in front of an ancient jade statue of a warrior so muscular, it made her feel like a sack of wet dumplings.
The challenge: awaken the spirit of the statue using only charm and non-magical seduction.
Others had tried and failed—singing love songs, writing poetry, interpretive dancing in rose petals.
Lin Yue approached it with a fan in one hand and a peach in the other.
"Hey, Big Rock Daddy," she cooed. "You've been stiff for centuries, huh?"
The crowd gasped.
She bit into the peach with sinful slow-motion precision. Juice dribbled down her wrist.
"I'm juicy. You're lonely. Let's make some noise."
Cracks formed in the jade.
"Oh? That got a rise out of you?"
The statue moaned.
It awoke. Blushed. Then fainted.
The judges screamed. Li Xian clapped. Bi Lian cursed.
Lin Yue bowed. "Stone-cold seduction, baby."
---
Challenge Two: Illusions and Innuendo
Each participant had to walk a runway while reciting a seductive poem—but they could only wear magical illusions.
Most competitors chose glamour spells: glimmering robes, golden feathers, veils of mist.
Lin Yue? She enchanted herself with one illusion: confidence.
She walked the stage draped in whispers of light and shadows shaped like hands.
Her poem?
"Roses are red, Dragons breathe fire, This look's an illusion, But baby, I inspire."
The crowd screamed. One noble passed out. A priest fainted.
Li Xian nearly dropped his wine.
Bi Lian tried to follow with a poem that rhymed "virtue" with "birch shoe." It bombed.
Lin Yue won again.
---
Challenge Three: The Whispering Sauna
Inside the glowing jade sauna, Lin Yue sat across from Li Xian, wrapped in nothing but steam and suspicion.
And then the sauna spoke.
LI XIAN'S DESIRE: "I want to kiss her until she forgets which dynasty she's from."
LIN YUE'S DESIRE: "I want to ride him like a celestial beast until my legs forget how to walk."
Silence.
Then a splash.
Then steam hissed as Li Xian's ears burned red.
Lin Yue covered her face. "I will die here. I am dying right now."
He leaned closer. "Would resurrection include breakfast?"
She threw a towel at him.
The judges declared them "Most Explosively Erotic Pair."
They were given a prize: a bottle of truth serum and a pair of magically linked anklets.
Yun whispered, "What does it mean?"
Su Ya replied, "It means they're probably married now."
Bi Lian was not okay.
She had lost the statue seduction. Lost the illusion poem walk. She'd even fainted in the Whispering Sauna (right after Lin Yue's darkest desire echoed through the marble like a scandalous opera).
So she did what any ancient fantasy mean girl would do.
Declare a Lingerie Duel.
"I challenge Lin Yue," she announced, "to a duel of allure, elegance, and magical undergarments!"
Lin Yue blinked. "A lingerie duel?"
"Yes. We each summon a magical outfit of intimate apparel. The judges vote. The winner is crowned Mistress of Mesmerizing Silk."
Su Ya muttered, "This kingdom needs therapy."
Yun screamed, "I'm designing your battle bra!"
---
The Duel
Bi Lian appeared first. Her armor was a corset of moonlight and thorns, high boots made of dragon hide, and gloves that whispered seduction in six languages.
The audience roared.
Then Lin Yue stepped onto the platform.
She wore—
Nothing.
Well, nothing visible. Her illusion lingerie was made of dream smoke, moonlight, and 100% bad decisions. Each movement revealed just enough to scandalize five monks and make three judges recite holy scriptures.
She winked.
"Less is more, darling."
The crowd lost its mind.
Madam Yi clapped so hard her fan snapped.
Winner? Lin Yue. Again.
Bi Lian screamed. Again.
Yun fainted from nosebleed.
---
Interlude: When Love Spells Backfire
Feeling cocky (and slightly wine-drunk), Lin Yue decided to test a love spell she found in the Temple archives.
"It says: 'Sprinkle on the lips of the one you desire. They will reveal their truest feelings.'"
She cornered Li Xian in the moonlit garden.
"Open up," she whispered, waving the tiny scroll.
He smirked. "Should I be scared?"
"You're always scared."
She dabbed it on his lips.
He blinked.
Then said: "I want you to step on me while reciting tax laws."
She dropped the scroll.
"WHAT?!"
He blinked again. "Also I've imagined you in nothing but a tiara and diplomatic immunity."
"OH MY GODS."
"I feel like kissing you until the emperor sends a scroll asking me to stop."
Lin Yue fled.
Yun later confirmed: "That wasn't a love spell. It was a truth spell."
Su Ya nodded. "You have a kinky prince on your hands."
---
The High Priestess Incident
At the final event—a moonlit gala in the Garden of Perfumed Riddles—Lin Yue accidentally complimented the High Priestess of Sensual Wisdom.
"You look divine tonight," she said, thinking it was polite.
The priestess, a towering woman in crimson silks and a knowing grin, responded, "Would you like to spend eternity in my private temple?"
Li Xian spat out his drink.
Bi Lian gasped, "She's going to seduce the clergy now?!"
Lin Yue smiled awkwardly. "Oh, I, uh, I'm flattered, but—"
The priestess leaned in. "Say the word, and I'll bless your hips with eternal rhythm."
"OKAYBYETHANKS."
Lin Yue dove into a koi pond to escape.
Yun applauded. "You're seducing people by accident now!"
Su Ya sipped tea. "Her aura is chaos and cleavage. This was inevitable."
---
At the end of the gala, Lin Yue received her final medal: a brooch shaped like lips, with the words "Queen of Carnal Catastrophes" engraved in starlight.
Li Xian, still damp from the pond, offered her his cloak.
"You've survived a lingerie duel, a truth spell, and nearly got kidnapped by a priestess."
She shrugged. "Just another Tuesday."
"You've won every round."
"And still have no idea how."
He took her hand. "Let me take you somewhere quiet. Just us."
She stared.
"You're serious?"
He nodded.
She grinned. "Only if there's food."
Scene: Palace Garden, 2 a.m.
The stars glittered. The koi pond bubbled softly. Lin Yue was finally alone.
And then she heard it.
The whispers.
"Did you hear she made the Jade Warrior moan?"
"Apparently her lingerie duel ended in divine intervention."
"They say the High Priestess offered her a temple and a lifetime supply of scented oils!"
"Someone saw her with Prince Li Xian under the Moon Bridge. Unsupervised."
Lin Yue groaned. "I can't even seduce in peace."
Yun came running. "The Empress wants to see you. Now."
"Oh gods. What now?!"
---
Audience with Her Imperial Majesty
The Empress of the Celestial Dynasty sat on a throne so shiny Lin Yue could see her own nervous reflection.
"Lin Yue," the Empress said. "You've disrupted every sacred rite this month."
Lin Yue bowed. "Apologies, Your Radiant Immensity."
"You seduced a statue. Dressed in forbidden illusions. Caused five nobles to divorce out of sheer confusion."
"In fairness, they were very repress—"
"And," the Empress interrupted, "you have captured the... interest of Prince Li Xian."
Li Xian stood beside the throne. He waved. "Hi."
The Empress narrowed her eyes. "As such, you are hereby given a choice."
Lin Yue stood straight.
"Join the Royal Court as the Prince's official consort-in-training—"
"Hard pass."
"—Or," the Empress continued without flinching, "take the path of the Wandering Witch. A powerful position. But it comes with celibacy vows and a dragon roommate."
Li Xian muttered, "Please don't pick celibacy and a lizard."
Lin Yue scratched her head. "What if I pick... neither?"
Everyone gasped.
"I want to make my own path," she said. "Maybe with sexy magic. Maybe not. But definitely with snacks."
The Empress considered. Then laughed.
"You remind me of myself," she said. "Before I had to wear fifty pounds of jewelry daily."
She waved her hand. "Then forge your path. But be warned: power always comes with a price."
"Is it taxes?" Lin Yue asked.
The Empress nodded solemnly. "And nobles."
---
Later, at the Silk Pavilion
Noble douchelord General Feng accosted her with an army of arrogant fanboys.
"You think you're special because you moaned a statue to life?"
She sipped tea. "Well, that, and I can levitate wine."
He grabbed her arm. "You're nothing without the prince."
Before anyone could gasp dramatically—
She punched him in the face.
Right in the pompous, powdered nose.
He crumpled like bad parchment.
Yun screamed, "THAT WAS SO HOT!"
Su Ya high-fived her. "Finally."
Li Xian picked a flower. "That was the exact moment I decided I'm in love with her."
---
Epilogue of the Chapter
Lin Yue walked out of the Pavilion with her head high, the prince at her heels, and her scandal level at maximum overdrive.
"Do you think the Empress will forgive the punch?"
"Depends if he bruises pretty."
"And you?" she asked Li Xian. "Still want to kiss me until I forget dynasties?"
He grinned. "Absolutely. And now I want to add: until the Empress legalizes PDA."
They walked into the moonlight, possibly toward love, definitely toward chaos.
Because in the world of ancient fantasy and magical flirtations—Lin Yue was rewriting the damn script.